European Silver
European Silver, often referred to as “Continental silver”, is a wide and generic definition aiming to include all silverware produced in Continental Europe.
The adjective “Continental” is normally intended in opposition to “English”, and refers to silver items bearing marks not immediately recognizable or less known on the British or American market.
In this vast category is possible to find German, Italian, Austrian, Portuguese, Spanish and Eastern European silver of all periods, as well as all types of European pseudo-marks.
Although sometimes used with a somehow negative connotation, compared to “better” known English and French silver, in the ocean of the so called “Continental silver” a real gem could be hiding: an early piece, a very rare and collectable hallmark, a highly decorative statue or an exceptional but unmarked Austrian enamelled and gem-set object.
